Abstract : China has invested more than 80 billion U.S. dollars in countries along the Belt and Road routes, built 82 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, creating more than 240,000 jobs to local communities.

BEIJING, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- China has invested more than 80 billion U.S. dollars in countries along the Belt and Road routes, and built 82 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, creating more than 240,000 jobs to local communities, according to He Lifeng, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at a forum of the Summer Davos 2018 in Tianjin.

A total of 106 countries and 29 international organizations have signed 150 cooperation agreements with China to jointly put the Belt and Road Initiative in place, said He, who is also the head of the National Development and Reform Commission

He noted that the China-Europe freight rail service network, a crucial part of the Belt and Road Initiative, has seen more than 10,000 trips.

He emphasized that innovation is an important driving force for the construction of the Belt and Road. Through the concept innovation, institutional mechanism innovation and technological innovation, the Belt and Road construction can be sustainable. (Edited by Hu Pingchao, hupingchao@xinhua.org)